The people that run the pools at my job are straightforward about the rules. They print a list of people that have paid and that are already in the pool. Then they post a copy of that list and a copy of the pool tickets on the bulletin board at work. This way there is no confusion and its there for everyone to see; even the security camera can see the list and tickets.

The main rule is, if you don't pay up, your name doesn't go on that list plain and simple. When you do pay up, a new list is printed and posted with the updates.

We have huge office pools. One of our last 2 had 57 members, and the other had around 35 but they have been bigger in the past reachinig 100+ members (I think the highest was 151 people). Even the executives usually get in on these pools.

My advice to you would be to state the rules with NO exceptions. Have everyone agree to a time that is best for both you and them and if they fail to meet you and give you their money, then they have up until a certain time to catch up to you and give you the money or they are out for that drawing. The people that run the pools at my job stop collecting money at 8pm on the night of the drawings. If you don't get your money in by then, that is your problem. The bottom line is, the money ABSOLUTLEY HAS TO BE IN BEFORE THE DRAWING. This way the list is final before the drawing.

No one can argue these rules either because a rule sheet is always present when the pools are open.

I actually did my first pool yesterday lol! I am already goinig to Philly on Wednesday to get some Powerball tickets so a collegue asked me to purchase 5 lines for him. I agreed. But in my own conscience, I cannot purchase lottery tickets and give them away without me being in on it. I would be sick if I ever just gave away a jackpot winning lottery ticket that I wasn't in on. So I said i'll match your $5 bucks and we can share any of the winnings if any of our 10 lines hit. He agreed and we shook on camera and had witnesses. I said I will call him immediatley after the drawing and tell him the numbers that were played on each line this way he knows I didn't do a switcharoo. (These will all be quickpicks, my wife and I are picking our own seperate numbers).

MEGA, I can assure you that if you work at a company that allows you to post Lottery-related things out in the open, your company is in the minority, most corporate structures would never allow that in a million years for obvious reasons.

MEGA, I can assure you that if you work at a company that allows you to post Lottery-related things out in the open, your company is in the minority, most corporate structures would never allow that in a million years for obvious reasons.

It doesn't matter when or where you buy 'certain' tickets, if you ever got sued and went to court it would not matter, unless you have it written in the contract that 'only tickets purchased at xxxxx are part of the office pool, tickets purchased elsewhere are not'. I can almost guarantee you the lawsuit would be over you pulling a switcharoo on them, the jury would be sympathetic to them, and you would probably lose, even though people 'magically know' when and where you buy THEIR tickets.

We are absolutely not trying to take the fun out of this for you, but if you have read the number of stories that we have regarding lottery lawsuits, you would know where we are coming from.

Heck, If I was the lady, I would insist on a copy of the tickets AND I would insist on printing/signing my name on a master copy, that way you know she is paid-up. No signature - not paid-up - not in the game.

I'd never buy 4 drawings in advance though, either. I'd go two, but never more than two. What if a number in the first game repeats to the second game ? Anymore, that happens about once every 4-5 games, what about a number hitting 3 times in a row ? It's very rare, but it happens. Four times in a row ? I've never seen it.

I've read a number of stories about lottery lawsuits so I see where you are coming from. You make it sound like the only way to protect myself is to not play on my own at all. I do understand where you are coming from, people will sue for any reason these days. I know there is no 100% protection on anything, you just have to do the best you can. Even contracts can be ignored by the courts if they so choose.

I buy the multi-draw tickets for convenience reasons, so I don't have to keep going back to the store to buy tickets. It makes my life easier and nobody seems to object to it. I think it works OK.

On another note, sometimes when Powerball gets high, a lady in another department runs a pool and I participate in it. I wonder what would happen with my pool members if I won from that pool. This lady always gives us a list of all participants and copies of the tickets.

One thing I plan to do if I win a big jackpot on my own is to claim as anonymously as possible. There is no such thing as 100% anomymity, but one can make it harder for certain people to find them if they wish to. If I win enough to where I can be set for life, I most likely wouldn't quit my job right away. I'd probably wait several months until the excitement of a local ticket died down and after I get things in order and decide what I want to do, where I want to live, etc., I'll just go to my boss and turn in my resignation for "personal reasons," then start my new life, whatever and wherever it will be.

I've read a number of stories about lottery lawsuits so I see where you are coming from. You make it sound like the only way to protect myself is to not play on my own at all. I do understand where you are coming from, people will sue for any reason these days. I know there is no 100% protection on anything, you just have to do the best you can. Even contracts can be ignored by the courts if they so choose.

I buy the multi-draw tickets for convenience reasons, so I don't have to keep going back to the store to buy tickets. It makes my life easier and nobody seems to object to it. I think it works OK.

On another note, sometimes when Powerball gets high, a lady in another department runs a pool and I participate in it. I wonder what would happen with my pool members if I won from that pool. This lady always gives us a list of all participants and copies of the tickets.

One thing I plan to do if I win a big jackpot on my own is to claim as anonymously as possible. There is no such thing as 100% anomymity, but one can make it harder for certain people to find them if they wish to. If I win enough to where I can be set for life, I most likely wouldn't quit my job right away. I'd probably wait several months until the excitement of a local ticket died down and after I get things in order and decide what I want to do, where I want to live, etc., I'll just go to my boss and turn in my resignation for "personal reasons," then start my new life, whatever and wherever it will be.

You would quit your day job in a max of 3 weeks, TRUST ME, this I KNOW.

It's a shame you cannot combine your pool with the other lady's pool and get more tickets, but then again, it depends on how many people you are talking: too many would dilute it down, I'd say each person needs to gross 2 million, but then again, that's a community decision.

Possibly consider having these two pools: but they are joining both groups together, yet you and the lady manage your separate pools. If either side wins, you all split the pot.